My Newest Gadget

Earlier this semester, I bought one of the most amazing gadgets! I was about to leave for the Tennessee game and knew that if I was going to spend the money, I'd really like having my new toy for the trip. So, with two days to spare, I made my purchase and started learning how to use my brand new Apple iPod Touch.

This is something I can't live without anymore. Because we are on a wireless campus, I can check my mail, facebook, and favorite news sources constantly! It's so portable! No, it doesn't replace my laptop, but I love how easy it is to use! The typing took a while to get used to,though. On long trips, I have my music and plenty of games to help time pass more quickly. There are 2-player games like air hockey, connect 4, and a game similar to guitar hero!

People ask me all the time why I didn't just get an iPhone. Really, I just didn't want a new phone service. Yes, the two devices are essentially the same except for phone capabilities, but the expenses that come with an iPhone just weren't worth it for me.

For someone who doesn't have as much access to wireless internet as I do, I'd probably tell them to pass on the iPod Touch, but for Alabama students, it is definitely worth it!

Sweet as Sugar

In case you haven't heard, Alabama football is headed to the Sugar Bowl! Now, some of you may be disappointed, but think back to the last week of August. If someone had told you that Nick Saban would carry the Tide all the way to Louisiana (and NOT SHREVEPORT) would you have believed them? I doubt I would have. We started this thrilling football season with a big win against a highly-ranked team, and the rest is history. We've snapped streaks, broken records, and seen a whole lot of awesomeness from people like Javy Arenas, Terrence Cody, Julio Jones, Glen Coffee, John Parker Wilson, and the list keeps going. (Anyone else think they'll always remember the day that Julio signed with Alabama? I heard about it as someone screamed the news from the window of their dorm room last spring. Yesterday he had 5 catches for something like 124 yards!)

I got back from Atlanta today, and trust me, there's a smile on my face. Our team accomplished more this year than we could have hoped for. They maintained an amazing level of play even as the critics kept saying "This is the week the tide will fall." Well, after seeing an amazing game last night (which was definitely NOT a landslide) I am ecstatic. I know where I'll be spending New Year's, and it's going to be sweet.

So, if you're feeling bitter about last night... remember, a spoonful of sugar makes the medicine go down. :-)

Roll Tide, fellow Bama Fans. We're back, and we're ready to roll for years to come.

It's That Time of Year...

No, the title of this post is not alluding to one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs.

I'm blogging about finals. There are "Shhhh!" notices all over the residence hall, Gorgas is buzzing (at least on the first floor where you are allowed to buzz), and students are stressing out left and right. The Auburn game is over and even though we have a rare 13th game before the end of the semester, it's time to study.

I have two big group projects due, a paper to write about a speech that I gave a few weeks ago, a 90-ish page screenplay to write, and general studying to do. The screenplay is the big obstacle right now. Though I know exactly what happens and how my movie ends, the actual typing is the hardest thing to do, and since this is the grade of my Screenwriting class, I'd better get it right!

It's a tough time of year, and my progress has been slowed by the ah-mazing football season. I keep day dreaming of this coming weekend (ATLANTA!). Unfortunately, that isn't going to finish my screenplay.

Now, I'm going back to work so that I can make good grades!

Good luck!

Cabin Fever

For the first time this semester, I had a 100% free weekend in Tuscaloosa. It's been great, but I also feel like I've been stuck inside a little too long. Now I have some more work to do, and I feel like I could explode if I don't escape. Today, I'm blogging about a few of my favorite places to study other than my dorm room.

First, I love to sit on the front steps of Gorgas and study when it isn't too cold. It's oddly peaceful, and the view of the Quad is awesome.

Another place I love to study, is actually off-campus. The Barnes and Noble in Midtown Village is so quiet and peaceful, that I often do my last minute cram sessions there while drinking a cup of Starbucks coffee.

Have you ever been to Riverwalk? It's another great place to study because you can sit on a bench overlooking the Black Warrior River. Very peaceful!

My roommate has a few favorite places to study as well. She said she likes to study on a blanket on the Blount Lawn when it is nice outside. Also, she said the basement of the library is usually so quiet that she has nothing to get distracted by, so she writes her papers and studies for exams down there.

Next time you need to escape your little dorm room (or apartment) try visiting a few of these locations to study in peace!

Twilight Fever

I've been looking forward to the Twilight movie since I first read the books in August. When I started reading Twilight, I physically couldn't put it down. I finished the book in no time, and loved it thoroughly. I kept up with the news about Twilight and all of the new trailers. When the soundtrack came out, I started getting even more excited. The songs really are perfect together! It features bands like Muse, Paramore, Linkin Park, Collective Soul, Iron & Wine, and ROB PATTINSON.

(Think I'm the only one who liked the soundtrack? Maybe you didn't realize that they played a song from the CD in Bryant-Denny before the Mississippi State game. It was "Spotlight" by Mutemath.)

The Twilight fever keeps spreading, and now that the movie is out, the low-budget film is making tons of money. Is it getting great reviews? Heck no. The acting isn't necessarily oscar-worthy and the wirework is very awkward. I know there are flaws... but as a reader of the book, I was thrilled with the movie.

I can see how people who have never read the books will watch it and not like it. Some people think Bella is annoying. Kristin Stewart's Bella is very true to the book, in my opinion.

Overall, my roommate and I enjoyed the movie a lot. It was well worth the money, and it left me wanting more...



PS: The sequel, New Moon, has officially been green-lighted!

Happy Better Relations Day!

Hello, Alabama! Happy Better Relations Day! You may have noticed the greeting to the Auburn visitors on campus in the Crimson White today. I don't know much about the whole "Better Relations Day" thing except that a small pep band played some cheers for the visitors in the stadium.

To me, a day of trying to improve relations between Alabama and Auburn is great in theory. And that's what it is... theory. How many of those people (AU and UA alike) walked away from today's festivities with any difference of opinion? My guess is that not many even cared. One of the students involved from Alabama even wanted the band to play Rammer Jammer. Suuuure. Nothing says "let's be friends" like yelling that we're going to beat the heck out of you in a week and a half.

The Auburn/Alabama rivalry is epic. Alabama has never beaten Auburn in Bryant-Denny! That's really depressing! I had no clue about that, to be honest. But that is why this rivalry is fun! We call them the "cow college," they call us whatever they call us, and it will probably never change. Giving the Auburn delegates orange University of Alabama folders (ew!) isn't going to smooth things over. I'd be interested to hear what the other activities included.

Honestly, I think today was for show. It's fun having this in-state rivalry. I love going back to my hometown in Alabama clothing and joking with my Auburn friends. I think it makes the football season even more interesting. Some fans take everything too seriously, and I hope that is something that will evolve and get better over time... but for now, I'm going to keep thinking that Alabama is superior and look forward to a big win over them in the Iron Bowl. Who's with me?

Alabama Volleyball

Have you ever been to an Alabama Volleyball game? No? Trust me, it's amazing. On Friday, I went to the Alabama-Ole Miss match to play with the pep band. I enjoyed it so much that I went again on Sunday for the one against Arkansas. Alabama won both!

If you don't know much about Volleyball, that's okay. It only took me a set to understand the basics and to really start enjoying the sport. I thought it was very interesting to see how much skill was involved. Alabama's team plays with such intensity!

The Tide only plays one more home game this season, and I want to encourage you all to attend! The match is Friday, November 28, at 7:00 p.m. against Mississippi State. It is an amazing way to spend an evening!

Remedies for Homesickness

My friends from home recently spent time at the National Peanut Festival in Dothan, Alabama. They rode thrilling rides, ate boiled peanuts, went to beauty pageants, and saw great concerts. I was unable to attend for the second year in a row.

It's the little things that make me miss home. I won't be the one to start decorating the house for Christmas, which makes me especially sad. When I got last week's newspaper, I browsed over the obituaries (not expecting any familiar names) and noticed that a man that I have known basically forever passed away. It was surprising and it made me think about the things I was missing.

I'm actually very good at not getting homesick. I budget out time to go home on some weekends, and I keep pictures up of my family and friends that remind me of the people I love and miss. Usually the pictures keep me from getting homesick.

But the simple truth is that when I have a bad day/week/month, I can fall straight into homesickness. When this happens, I have a few things that I do to ease the homesickness.

First, I stay busy. When I have a really busy week, I can keep my mind off of missing home. I have band as an outlet to help me stay busy when the schoolwork isn't weighing me down. If you're homesick, try joining a group that will occupy a few hours of your time each week... it can make your week less monotonous.

Second, I like to call home via webcam. Many of my family members have webcams (even my grandmother)! We use Yahoo chat and visit with each other every once in a while. My mom sometimes puts my pets on the camera, and I can watch them run around just like I would if I was at home.

Finally, the fun stuff. Letting loose is always a good way to cut back on stress and homesickness. You are probably less likely to miss home if you are laughing about a funny video or hanging out with a few people from the neighborhood. Pick up a fun hobby, and meet new people.

I asked a few of my friends what they do when they get homesick. Here are Valerie, Amber, Courtney, Colleen, and Maggie to give you their answers.

Having a Bad Day?

My next post is going to be about homesickness so I thought I'd just post this as a pre-post post.

It's November... the temperature is dropping and I'm getting restless. I'm ready for a break for family time. So yeah, I'm a little blue these days. Luckily, I happened upon one of the most uplifting blogs I've ever read. Its called the Fail Blog. It's hilarious.

If you are having a bad day... it could be worse.

Baton Rouge: Mission Accomplished

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the LSU trip was a success. Not only did we come back to Tuscaloosa with a 10th win, but we were actually able to enjoy the trip! We were expecting abuse from LSU fans, but with the exception of MANY middle fingers and "Tiger Bait's" it was thoroughly enjoyable (from the bus, we were able to count 82 middle fingers before the crowds became too large).

The game on Saturday was probably the most stressful football game I have ever witnessed... it was fantastic! I saw a video on YouTube a few days ago that exemplified what it felt like in that stadium. In the video, Alabama fans were watching as John Parker Wilson scored the touchdown in overtime. The camera began to shake and swing in every direction, filming wildly as fans jumped for joy. The fans were so loud.

That was the atmosphere. Pure chaos. Sitting in the band, we jumped, cheered, and high-fived before breaking into Rammer Jammer. It was powerful. My voice is still scratchy! I could not be prouder of our fantastic team for their hard work!!!!

It was a great weekend! I hope you enjoyed the game as much as I did... See you Saturday!




Here is the link to the video I mentioned above. Be warned: It has a few mild profanities and you may want to lower the volume. ENJOY!

The National Anthem

Today, since I'm really tired after a long trip to Baton Rouge, I decided to post a video that I made. My mom came to visit and videotaped the MDB playing the National Anthem on gameday! Enjoy!

PS: I'll update about all of my favorite LSU trip moments in the next blog.

Something to Entertain You

One blog that I visit quite often is called Cake Wrecks. Basically, the blog is updated daily with professional cakes gone wrong. Spelling errors, poor color choices, things that look like something else, and other cakes that really stink, create the content.

Wreckporters everywhere stop by grocery stores and bakeries just to catch a glimpse of an elusive wreck to send in. This blog just makes me laugh. I love to check in on it and see what funny cakes have been added.

Check it out!!

(If you don't want to read the whole thing, at least check out my favorite post. It can be found HERE.)




PS: Roll Tide, and have a fun weekend! I'll be in Baton Rouge dodging beer bottles!

On the Road

Away games are always... interesting. This Friday, I'll be departing with 380 other members of the Million Dollar Band to go to Baton Rouge. The veterans have already told us that LSU fans have a tendency to get rowdy. We'll have an army of state troopers with us, but it still makes me nervous.

Each school has its share of fools, of course. Last year, the Tide even had a few students who thought it would be fun to throw glass bottles at the Georgia players. It happens even though we know it isn't acceptable.

When Georgia fans decided to pour beer on a reporter who was live on-air after the UA v. UGA game, they received bad press, too. But what makes the atmosphere at a football game too hostile to be understandable?

When the band went to Tennessee, we tried to count the middle fingers from the bus. Well, let’s just say there were a lot. But the Tennessee trip was one of the best I've ever taken. Their fans generally didn't threaten us, yell at us, or throw anything. That's fantastic (especially since we beat them by so much). I wouldn't hesitate to go back.

LSU has a bad reputation, though. People don't like going into Tiger Territory because of the abuse they face. Dangerous situations occur even more at night games in Baton Rouge. Fans have too much to drink or get a little too hyped up, and they take it out on band members, players, and other Alabama fans. We're advised to go to the bathroom in groups, not act too happy, and never, under any circumstances, look an LSU fan in the eyes (So maybe that last one was an exaggeration).

But it makes me wonder, how is Alabama viewed? Will the Mississippi State players, band members, and cheerleaders need to bring an army of escorts? Alabama fans, I know that we are really competitive people, but there is no excuse for verbally beating up on band members. We've had a fantastic year so far. Why can't we be as classy as our football team is? One bad Alabama student can steal all of the headlines and make fans from other schools want to stay home.

Let's show everyone what a classy school with classy fans really is. Let's convince them that Alabama is the place to be. 'Kay?

I Meant to Post This Earlier

College students are some of the best procrastinators you could ever find. I should know... I'm one of them. Today, I'm blogging about some of the best ways to procrastinate. Along with these five items, I've given a possible solution to help you avoid temptation when the time comes.


1. FACEBOOK, MySpace, Mybook, facespace, etc.
Whatever social-networking website you use, procrastination almost always starts there. Whether chatting with your friends or giving your profile a complete overhaul, its easy to put off a paper a few more hours by logging in and looking around.

Solution: Putting up a note or status to let your friends know you won't be online for a while could give you peace of mind. Promise yourself to stay away from pictures, videos, and other forms of Facebook stalking, and reward yourself when you finish your task.

2. Online Television
Watching television is an escape for most college students. I know I would rather deal with the drama on Grey's Anatomy than finish my work. I also enjoy a good BBC miniseries to waste time. When I have a bad day, I camp out in my room and watch Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice.

Solution: In case you haven't gotten the memo: the beauty of online television is that you can watch your favorite show whenever you want! It isn't necessary to plan work around TV anymore! Pick a day when you have nothing due and turn into a vegetable!

3. Shopping
Have you ever realized how many shopping centers or malls there are in Tuscaloosa? I once spent an entire day going from place to place looking for a Christmas present for my dad. There's a lot to look at, for sure.

Solution: Make a list throughout the week of necessary items, and pick a day. Leave the leisurely shopping for a truly lazy day that you can afford to waste.

4. Walk around campus
This is one of my favorites. I think it is therapeutic to walk around while laughing about crazy squirrels and contemplating life.

Solution: Just because you need to write a paper doesn't mean you have to write it your room! Find a creative new place to study. My favorite pre-test cram spot of 2007 was the Starbucks in Barnes and Noble. Why? It’s quiet, comfortable, and comes with caffeine. Also, study on the quad if it isn't too cold!

5. Get Crafty
My roommate has already learned of my craftiness. I've Bama-fied our door, created adorable elephants with pom-poms and pipe cleaners, made sashes to keep our curtains pulled back, and made a Lego costume for Halloween. Something about Hobby Lobby makes me feel complete. I love to find new things to keep me occupied, and crafts definitely do that. Plus, you can get some really cute things out of it!

Solution: Since this is my biggest weakness, I have to force myself to avoid Hobby Lobby. I visit Hobby Lobby during extremely bad weeks. It’s much easier for me to make it through a week of tests when I know I can go detoxify with craftiness.


So there are six of my favorite things to do when I really don't want to study... hopefully I've pointed out a few ways to avoid temptation and ensure you spend the proper amount of time working. Now, read a few more blogs from the CW, and GET BACK TO WORK!

Park Appropriately

A few weeks ago, I arrived early to one of my classes and overheard a few comments which are common on campus. A tall, blonde girl stood ahead of me talking to her friend. Her voice carried quite well, and many people could hear her. She said, “Guess who got a ticket… ME! And it cost $250!!!” After this, I leaned over to a friend and whispered, “I bet she parked in a handicapped parking space.” Not thirty seconds after saying this, she said, “I parked in a handicapped space, but I had my flashers on! I had just gone into my dorm for a minute!”

Quite often, I encounter people who have parked in handicapped spaces in the parking lot next to the Blount Living-Learning Center. Every time I see this happen, it makes me mad. Why is such a small thing so hard? Handicapped parking spaces are clearly marked with blue paint and signs, yet people without proper permits “idle” in them. Many leave their cars running with emergency lights flashing, expecting to be excused from a ticket. The fact is that parking in a handicapped space is rude! Those spaces are marked off for a reason.

Putting all of this aside, parking in a handicapped space is dumb for other reasons. Parking in the grass carries a fine of $25 on the first offense. Even parking in a Tow Away zone only carries a fine of $50! I would personally be less annoyed if you were idling in another area which was out of the way of traffic, AND you would save $200! I encourage everyone to look at the website for parking on campus. Please, ladies and gentlemen, find a proper parking space to idle in, or park out of the way of traffic, but please do not park in handicapped spaces! Maybe next time you won’t have a $250 ticket to deal with.